Introduction
Managing patient flow and bed capacity is a complex task for healthcare institutions. This is particularly true with high unscheduled admissions like Zed Medical Center. This essay examines the prioritization of patients for bed assignment and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of implementing TeleTracking software in the context of the organization’s goals. The purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of TeleTracking software in enhancing patient flow management and operational efficiency at Zed Medical Center.
Patient Prioritization for Bed Assignment
Patients are prioritized for bed assignment based on the level of care required at Zed Medica. There is also physician preferences in the choice of the nursing unit. The Patient Care Coordinator Department identifies the appropriate nursing unit for each patient, while the Bed Control Department assigns specific beds using the TeleTracking software’s Capacity Management Suite (Nelson & Staggers, 2018). This approach ensures that patients receive the most appropriate care according to their medical needs and the expertise of the nursing units.
Advantages and Disadvantages of TeleTracking Software
TeleTracking software offers several advantages to Zed Medical Center. It streamlines patient flow management by automating bed assignments, tracking bed status, and coordinating patient transport (Nelson & Staggers, 2018). The electronic bedboard feature of the PreAdmitTracking module provides a graphical user interface for monitoring planned admissions, transfers, and discharges, allowing for improved decision-making and bed allocation (Nelson & Staggers, 2018). The software also supports the hospital’s operational goals of decreasing the length of stay and achieving the “ED to 3” objective (Nelson & Staggers, 2018). It contributes to enhanced patient care and satisfaction. However, there are potential disadvantages to implementing TeleTracking software. The initial investment in the software and the infrastructure required to support it can be costly.
Integration with Other Institutional Applications
The TeleTracking software could be integrated with other institutional applications to provide a comprehensive dashboard view of census-type activity. The software could help track patients’ medical histories, test results, and treatment plans by sharing data with applications (Haleem et al., 2021). The mentioned apps would offer a holistic view of each patient’s journey through the healthcare system. Moreover, by integrating with other clinical applications such as radiology and pharmacy systems, the TeleTracking software could facilitate better care coordination and ensure timely access to required medications and diagnostic services (Haleem et al., 2021). This comprehensive dashboard view of census-type activity could help Zed Medical Center identify trends, monitor performance metrics, and support continuous improvement efforts across the organization.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Zed Medical Center’s patient prioritization for bed assignment aims to ensure appropriate care based on various needs. The TeleTracking software offers significant advantages in managing patient flow and bed capacity, aligning with the organization’s goals of enhancing patient care and satisfaction. However, initial investment costs, ongoing support expenses, and potential integration challenges must be considered. Integrating the TeleTracking software with other institutional applications could provide a comprehensive dashboard view, enabling better decision-making and resource allocation across the organization. Ultimately, the successful implementation and integration of the application can improve patient outcomes and overall operational efficiency at Zed Medical Center.
References
Haleem, A., Javaid, M., Singh, R. P., & Suman, R. (2021). Telemedicine for healthcare: capabilities, features, barriers, and applications. Sensors International, 2, 100117. Web.
Maramba, I., Jones, R., Austin, D., Witkiewitz, K., Meinert, E., & Chatterjee, A. (2022). The role of health kiosks: scoping review. JMIR Medical Informatics, 10(3), e26511. Web.
Mold, F., Hendy, J., Lai, Y., & De Lusignan, S. (2019). Electronic consultation in primary care between providers and patients: systematic review. JMIR Medical Informatics, 7(4), e13042. Web.
Nelson, R., & Staggers, N. (2018). Health informatics: An Interprofessional Approach (2nd ed.). Mosby.